1 B2 idiomatic neutral
(Figurative) To retract, soften, or distance oneself from a previously made statement or position.
"The minister was forced to walk back her earlier comments after intense public criticism."
separable
walk back
B2 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To retract, reverse, or distance oneself from a previously stated position, claim, or commitment, often gradually or diplomatically.
In plain English
To go back on something you said before — usually a promise or statement — and say you didn't really mean it.
What does "walk back" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 A2 neutral
(Literal) To walk back in the direction one has come from.
"We had to walk back to the car park because we missed the last bus."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To walk in the direction one came from — extended figuratively to reversing a position.
Actually means
To go back on something you said before — usually a promise or statement — and say you didn't really mean it.
Usage tip
The figurative sense is now extremely common in political journalism and public discourse, particularly in American English. It often implies a careful or incremental retraction rather than a full admission of error. The literal sense (to walk back the way one came) is less common.
Words that pair with "walk back"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
statement claim position comment promise remarks
How to conjugate "walk back"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
walk back
I/you/we/they
3rd person
walks back
he/she/it
Past simple
walked back
yesterday
Past participle
walked back
have + pp
-ing form
walking back
continuous
Hear "walk back" in the wild
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